Gas mixer



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lim-nf. M, HQE@ H. v. SNODGRASS GAS MIXER Filed Aug. 21, 1955 Patented Jan. 14, 1936 PATENT OFFICE GAS MIXER Harrison V. Snodgrass, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 21 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an apparatus for mixing vaporous fuels, such as natural gas, with air for use in internal combustion engines, and the principal object is to provide a gas mixer which, after a proper adjustment, will automatically supply the right mixture of air and natural gas to an engine to efficiently operate it on all of its speeds.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gas mixer, with a relatively simple means for feeding natural gas to an internal combustion engine at atmospheric pressure, that is constructed so that at no time in engine operation can the natural gas pressure exceed the pressure of the air taken into the mixture. 'I'his feature of invention, in addition to enabling the engine to eiciently and economically function at all speeds with any desired mixture of natural gas andair at the same pressure, also enables the engine to operate without the fluctuations such as are common when the pressure and mixture vary sufficiently to cause misiire in the engine or uneven combustion therein.

A feature of invention is shown in providing the gas mixer with a by-pass that has its discharge outlet interposed between the throttle valve and the engine so that a very rich mixture can be supplied to the engine for starting it and also for operating it on low speed. Also in this construction the by-pass is provided with a set screw for regulating the flow of fuel therethrough for starting the engine and operating it on low speed.

Features of invention are shown in the construction, combination and arrangement Aof parts whereby a gas mixer is provided that can be adjusted into any radial line position in three hundred and sixty degrees respecting its connection to an engine; and also the means for supplying the gas mixer fuel chamber with fuel can be so adjusted. Also the adjustment of the gas mixer includes an are movement of the gas mixer body on its base transversely to the radial line positions above mentioned.

Another feature of invention is shown in the connection between the gas mixer body and the means for supplying its chamber with fuel, which connection enables either of these parts to be turned. in a circle relative tol each other with the connection forming a pivot po-int. Also this connection is in the form of a slip pipe that permits the parts to be moved closer together to conserve space in installation, or moved apart. to facilitate a connection to a Supply pipe and engine.

, 1933, Serial No. 686,009

Another feature of invention is shown in providing a gas mixer with a swivel flange that can be turned into register with a similar flange on the inlet manifold of an engine to thereby facilitate the connecting of the gas mixer to the engine when otherwise their flanges will not register. Heretofore such iianges that are out of register have been connected by extra ange couplings or pipe connection and an obiject of this invention is to easily make connections between the engine and gas mixer without extra pipe or flange connections.

Another feature of invention is shown in supporting the weight of the ball valve by a counterbalance so that in operation a very slight suction in the fuel chamber will cause this valve to open to admit more fuel to the gas mixer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gas mixer that will function equally well in vertical, horizontal or down-draft positions; or in any other position in which it is desirable to have a gas mixer operate.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claim.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is an end view of a gas mixer that is constructed in accordance with this invention, and indicating by a circle of dot and dash lines that the gas mixer can be arranged to operate in any radial position in the circle.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the gas mixer shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the gas mixer on a larger scale than that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, showing the detailed construction of the gas mixer.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental bottom view of the gas mixer showing the means for turning the valve housing on the base and also showing the means for adjusting the air shutter.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5 5, Fig. 3, showing the ribs for guiding the ball valve in its opening and closing movements.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental view in vertical section of the discharge end of the carbureter showing the detailed construction of its swiveled flange; also indicating by dotted lines a frag- V mental portion of the flanged end of an inlet manifold secured thereto by a bolt.

The gas mixer includes a base I0 having the fuel chamber 25 therein and also a relatively flat upper surface H0 in which an annular channel II is extended so that when covered by the flat bottom of the valve housing I2, it forms a fuel passage with which the by-pass fuel passage I3 in an extension I4 of the housing I2 is always in register, regardless as to what position the housing may occupy on the base.

The housing I2 is detachably adjustably secured on the base by set screws I5 that are extended through the elongated concentric slots I5 in the base III into the bottom of the housing I2.

The screws I5 and slots I6 are oppositely arranged and are constructed so the housing can be turned in an arc of ninety degrees; and it is obvious that with this construction it can be reversed or turned entirely around on the base. 'I'hese parts are constructed as shown and described to facilitate connecting the gas mixer to the intake manifolds of all types of engines that, as is Well known, differ greatly in the construction and arrangement of their inlet manifolds.

To additionally facilitate the attaching of the gas mixer to an engine, I provide it with a swiveled flange I1 that can be turned in all radial directions around the discharge outlet of the gas mixer so it can be easily turned into register with a like fiange on the engines intake pipe. The engine is not shown.

Engines and their connections to gas mixers are well understood by those versed in the manufacture of such apparatus and for that reason are not shown or described in this specification.

The swivel flange I1 is secured to the outlet end of the gas mixer by a shoulder I8 that is milled or swaged over into a recess I9 in the flange I1 after the latter is placed on the outlet end of the gas mixer as fragmentally shown in Fig. 6.

When the flange I1 is secured by bolts 20 to the inlet end of an inlet manifold, or to a similar flange on an engine it will draw the shoulder I8 into tight engagement in the connection so the discharge end of the gas mixer functions as a solid part.

The valve housing I2 is secured to the base I0 so its main mixture passage 2I is held centrally over the fuel nozzle 22 that extends into it and which is preferably integral with the base I0. The passage 23 through this nozzle is connected by a port 24 with the fuel chamber 25 in the base I0; and a set screw 26 is provided for controlling the discharge of fuel from the nozzle. Also extending up through the base I0 into the passage 2I are the spaced air ports 21 that open from the outer air into the mixture passage 2|; and the passage of air through these ports is regulated by a shutter 28 that is adjustably secured to the base I0 by a set screw 29 that is movable in the concentric slot 30 to change the position of the shutter 28 as may be desired, see Figs. 3 and 4.

The annular' groove fuel passage II is connected to the fuel chamber 25 by a port 3| so that vaporized fuel such as oil vapor fuel can pass through the by-pass I3 and discharge through the port 32 into the mixture passage ZI in advance of the throttle valve 33. The discharge of vaporized fuel from the port 32 is regulated by the set screw 34, as best shown in Fig. 3.

The valve 33 is mounted on a shaft 35 that is actuated by the lever 36 in the usual way, and, as best shown in Fig. 2, the movement of this lever is limited by the stops 31 and 38 and set screw 39.

The base I IJ has an outside pipe like extension 4D that is preferably aligned with a similar pipe like extension 4I on a valve housing 42 and the extensions are connected by a pipe sleeve 43. The sleeve 43 can be of any suitable length so the valve housing 42 can be arranged near to or far away from the base IQ; and in some instances I may use a flexible pipe or hose of some length to connect the valve housing and base.

When a sleeve is used to connect the base and housing 42, such as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in addition to forming a connection between these parts, this sleeve also functions as a pvot on which the connected parts can be turned to properly adjust them to an engine.

It is obvious from the foregoing description and drawing that the base I0 can be turned on the sleeve 42 to move the valve housing I2 into a vertical or horizontal position or to change it from a vertical to a down-draft gas mixer.

Integral with the housing 42 is the member 44 of a diaphragm housing 45 in which a diaphragm 46 is enclosed by the removable member 41 that is secured thereto by the screws 48.

Secured to the diaphragm 46 is a rod 49 that has its upper end portion extended through a guide 50 into contact with the ball valve 5I that normally closes the passage 52 from the fuel supply pipe 53 into the fuel chamber 54 in the housing 42. 'I'he housing 42 is provided with the inwardly extended ribs 55 to guide the ball 5I in its opening and closing movements. The other end of the rod 49 is extended down through a guide hole 56 in the member 41 into contact with an arm 51 on the counterbalance lever 58. This lever is pivoted on the pin 59 so the adjustable counter-Weights 60 on the rod 6I will normally force the rod 49 upwardly into engagement with the ball valve 5I.

The purpose of the counterbalance is to overcome the weight of the ball valve 5I and the pressure thereon so that suction from the engine will not have to lift this weight and overcome the fuel pressure when in operation. The lower end of the lever 58 is provided with an eyelet 62 so a cord 63 can be connected thereto for manually opening the valve 5I when so desired.

Air passages 64 are cut through the member 41 of the diaphragm housing 45 so that suction from the engine is free to act on the diaphragm 46 to lift theball valve 5I when in operation.

As the weight of the counterbalance 60 overcomes the weight of the ball valve 5I and fuel pressure thereon, it is obvious that a very slight suction on the diaphragm 46 will open the valve to .supply fuel such as oil vapor to the engine; and that the supply of fuel will be in exact proportion to engine suction and at atmospheric pressure.

In operation the engine is preferably started With the throttle valve nearly closed so that a. very rich mixture will be taken into the engine with the fuel passing through the by-pass I3. On intermediate and high speeds the suction on the by-pass I 3 will decrease in proportion to the opening of the throttle valve so that the fuel will be fed to the mixture through the nozzle 22.

I claim as my invention:

A gas mixer including a base having a fuel chamber therein and also having an annular flat top surface with an annular channel therein, an oil vapor nozzle integral with said base that is extended upward centrally above said annular surface with air inlets through said base adjacent the bottom of said nozzle, a valve housing detachably and adjustably secured to said base so its dat bottom end rests on the flat surface of said base and forms a cover for said channel to thereby convert it into an annular passage thatv is connected by another passage to the chamber in said base, said housing having a main passage arranged centrally over said nozzle and an offset by-pass that has its intake end opening into said annular fuel passage and its discharge end opening into said main passage, a throttle valve in said air passage that is interposed between said nozzle and discharge end of said by-pass, a shutter adjustably mounted on said base and arranged around said nozzle for regulating the ow of air into said main passage, and means for supplying oil vapor and regulating its flow to the chamber in said base.

HARRISON V. SVNODGRASS. 

